Teen driving accidents Tag

Summer is here and that means big changes for the flow of traffic with more teenagers and families on the roads. Increased traffic is a risk factor for car accidents on its own but when you add in additional teenage drivers who are at the highest risk for being in a car accident, summer becomes a much more dangerous time to be on the road. The fatality rate for drivers aged 16 to 19 is four times higher than that of drivers aged 25 to 69 years. Other common types of summer accidents are motorcycle accidents, swimming accidents, boating accidents, playground accidents and amusement park accidents.

Many of us have memories of that last beautiful summer as a teenager before we were working full time. There was plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine and test out our new driving skills for a taste of freedom. Unfortunately, this happy time turns into a tragic accident more often than we would like. Annual survey results from Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) indicate that teen drivers often engage in more risky driving behaviors during the summer months than during the school year that lead to crashes, serious injuries and, sometimes deaths.

Summer Driving More Deadly for Teen Drivers

More teens die in car crashes during the summer months (June through September) than any other time of the year. Of the 6,434 youth (ages 15 to 20) car crash fatalities in 2000, July saw more deaths (644) than any other month, followed by June (600), September (590) and August (587).

Summer Teen Driving Data

Since they have more free time and/or are driving to summer jobs, teen drivers average 44 percent more hours driving each week during the summer (23.6 hours) than during the school year (16.4 hours). The more we are behind the wheel; the more likely we are to be involved in a car accident.

The “Piling-In” effect is in full swing in the summer when 23% of teen drivers are likely to drive with three or more teens in the car, compared to 6 percent of teen drivers who do this during the school year. Car crash rates for teens rise significantly as the number of passengers increases, particularly among the youngest teens aged 16 and 17.

Teens tend to be out later at night in the summer: 72% of teens report they stay out later during the summer than the school year. Additionally, 47% of teen drivers drive late at night during the summer as compared to 6% percent of teen drivers who drive late at night during the school year. This fact is particularly important because more than a quarter (27 percent) of all teen driving deaths, ages 16 to19, occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Sleep deprivation is more prevalent in the summer and 24% of teen drivers admit to getting behind the wheel while sleepy in the summer as compared to just 9% who drive tired during the school year.

Other teen behavior that compounds the risks of summer driving

87% of teens admit to talking on a cell phone while driving.

87% of teens admit to speeding while driving

About one third of teen drivers use drugs or alcohol and may still be experiencing the effects when they get behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!

When a person turns 16 they are often very excited to get their driver’s license but it is probably safe to say that most parents are nervous about this milestone. Although they may relish their child being able to drive themselves to school and activities, they are nervous about their teen being hurt in an accident. Parents have good reason to worry as the car crash injury and fatality statistics among teen drivers are staggering. In fact, car crashes are the number one cause of death among teens in the U.S. and the top three predictors for fatality in a car accident are not wearing seat belts, teen drivers and roads with speed limits of 45 miles per hour or higher. Parents can influence their teen’s driving behavior; 56 percent of teens are taught to drive by their parents and 66 percent of teens say they listen to their parents’ opinion on using a cell phone while driving.

Speeding

Half of teen drivers report driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit at least sometimes

The crash risk increases incrementally with each mile per hour over the speed limit

Cell Phones

Nine out of 10 teens say that it is common to see teens driving while talking on a cell phone

Seat Belts

Teens have the lowest seat belt use rates of any age group

Only 65 percent of teens consistently wear their seat belts as both a driver and passenger

Six out of 10 drivers aged 16 to 20 who were killed in crashes were not wearing their seat belt

Almost two out of three teens killed as passengers are not wearing their seat belt

Drunk Driving

Teens are statistically less likely than adults to get behind the wheel after drinking, but when they do; their risk of crashing is much higher when you add in other teen risk factors

Fifty-three percent of teens have seen other teens drinking and driving at some point

Thirty-one percent of teens who died in a car crash were drinking alcohol

Day of the week and time of day matters

Fifty-three percent of teen deaths in fatal accidents happened on the weekends and 41 percent occurred overnight between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!